Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

A three-year starter at Kansas State, Culpepper raised expectations in terms of his own Draft status by leading the U.S. collegiate national team in hitting the summer before his junior year. He did nothing to dampen excitement when he moved from third to shortstop in his junior year, posted a .993 OPS and hit .474 in the NCAA Tournament, leading the Wildcats to the Super Regionals. He became the first position player from Kansas State to ever be taken in the first round when the Twins selected him No. 21 overall. He made a solid, albeit brief, pro debut, reaching High-A in the process.

Culpepper entered pro ball with a reputation as having a very disciplined hit-over-power approach, and he lived up to it during his stop with Single-A Fort Myers. He makes a ton of contact and uses the entire field with outstanding bat speed. That plus his natural strength point to the chance for solid power, though he's been content thus far using his flat swing to send line drives everywhere rather than aim for more loft. A little more leverage could lead to average in-game pop in the future.

One question surrounding Culpepper was where he would profile best defensively. He looked better at short than many expected, and the Twins already consider him one of the better at the position in their system. But some think he may not have the quickness and range to stay there long-term. He could be a Gold Glover at third, though that will put more pressure on his bat, and the Twins plan to expose him a little to the hot corner as well as second and even the outfield as he progresses, just to expand his defensive arsenal.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50 

Bothered by a hamate injury for much of his sophomore season, Culpepper starred at the Big 12 Conference tournament and was the top hitter (.471/.526/.853) on the U.S. collegiate national team during the summer. He moved from third base to shortstop as a junior, batting .474 in the NCAA Tournament (including hitting for the cycle against Louisiana Tech) as the Wildcats reached the Super Regionals. He went from an unheralded Tennessee high schooler to Kansas State's first-ever first-round position player when the Twins took him No. 21 overall this July and signed him to a full-slot bonus of $3.93 million.

A right-handed hitter, Culpepper has a disciplined approach that prioritizes making consistent contact and using the entire field. He has well-above-average bat speed and enough strength to produce average power, yet he has a flat swing and rarely drives the ball in the air. He slugged just .318 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer and may top out at 12-15 homers per season. 

Culpepper handled shortstop on the Cape and in fall practice better than scouts expected, though he probably lacks the lateral quickness to play there regularly in the big leagues. He has at least plus arm strength and is a potential Gold Glover at third base, though that position would demand more power production than shortstop. He's an average runner and an opportunistic basestealer.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50 

Culpepper might go from an unheralded Tennessee high schooler to Kansas State's first-ever first-round position player. Bothered by a hamate injury for much of his sophomore season, he starred at the Big 12 Conference tournament and was the top hitter (.471/.526/.853) on the U.S. collegiate national team during the summer. He moved from third base to shortstop as a junior, batting .474 in the NCAA Tournament (including hitting for the cycle against Louisiana Tech) as the Wildcats reached the Super Regionals.

A right-handed hitter, Culpepper has a disciplined approach that prioritizes making consistent contact and using the entire field. He has well-above-average bat speed and enough strength to produce average power, yet he has a flat swing and rarely drives the ball in the air. He slugged just .318 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer and may top out at 12-15 homers per season. 

Culpepper handled shortstop on the Cape and in fall practice better than scouts expected, though he probably lacks the lateral quickness to play there regularly in the big leagues. He has at least plus arm strength and is a potential Gold Glover at third base, though that position would demand more power production than shortstop. He's an average runner and an opportunistic basestealer. 

Awards

TEX Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	07/11/2025	American League Futures activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	06/20/2025	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Wichita Wind Surge from Cedar Rapids Kernels.
	06/20/2025	Wichita Wind Surge activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	04/22/2025	Cedar Rapids Kernels activated SS Kaelen Culpepper from the 7-day injured list.
	04/12/2025	Cedar Rapids Kernels placed SS Kaelen Culpepper on the 7-day injured list.
	03/15/2025	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Minnesota Twins Prospects.
	03/06/2025	activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	08/19/2024	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Cedar Rapids Kernels from Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
	08/19/2024	Cedar Rapids Kernels activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	08/19/2024	Cedar Rapids Kernels activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	08/09/2024	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels from FCL Twins.
	08/05/2024	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to FCL Twins.
	08/01/2024	Minnesota Twins signed SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated 3B Kaelen Culpepper.
	02/02/2024	3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.
	06/26/2023	3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to USAB Stars Team.
	06/08/2023	3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to College Workout.
	05/20/2023	3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.
	04/01/2022	3B Kaelan Culpepper assigned to Bluefield Ridge Runners.
	04/01/2022	Bluefield Ridge Runners activated 3B Kaelen Culpepper.
	02/14/2022	3B Kaelen Culpepper and assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.